Method and system for providing registration and loss protection services to consumer jewelry owners

• US 20020165741A1
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GEM Certification & Assurance Lab Incorporated (Collectors Universe Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: GEM Certification & Assurance Lab Incorporated (Collectors Universe Incorporated)
• Inventors: Becker, Paul J., Gredinger, Jack, Becker, Seth P.
• Application Number:
  US10/020,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20020165741A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for providing registration services and loss protection services related to marked jewelry for new jewelry consumer purchases or existing consumer owned items. Upon transferring ownership of a uniquely inscribed, marked, encoded, or otherwise identifiable gemstone or jewelry item, the facilitator of the registration and loss protection services (e.g., a dealer or retailer) includes (without limiting it to) both a database registration service and a loss protection service. This may occur before, or shortly after a transfer of ownership transaction takes place. Ultimately, this leads to the end consumer receiving at point of sale registration services and loss protection services included in their diamond, gemstone and/or jewelry purchase, which creates many added-value benefits and peace of mind such as providing replacements. Detailed information pertaining to the jewelry owner, the identification information and characteristics and value of the jewelry item, along with other relevant information may be registered into a database for tracking, identification, protection and recovery purposes. Data can be entered prior to sale to a consumer for greater tracking throughout a distribution chain. The method also comprises updating the database upon the occurrence of an event relating to the marked jewelry item, including: a transfer of ownership, loss, destruction, theft, damage, recovery, settlements, as are current and updated evaluations.

Claims

1. A system for providing registration services and loss protection services related to marked jewelry, comprising:

a database for registering said marked jewelry; and

a loss protection system in communication with said database for bundling said registration services with said loss protection services related to said marked jewelry.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said database includes ownership data related to said marked jewelry.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said database includes distinguishing characteristics of said marked jewelry for tracking and identification purposes.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said database includes fees collected and owed.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said database includes value of said marked jewelry.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said loss protection systems provides said database with policy data relating to coverage terms selected.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said loss protection systems provides said database with updated inspection data relating to said marked jewelry.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said loss protection systems provides said database with transfer of ownership data.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said loss protection systems provides said database with occurrence of events relating to said marked jewelry including one of theft, loss, destruction and recovery.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said loss protection services are bundled with said registration services after transfer of ownership of a jewelry item to a consumer, the consumer paying an additional cost for loss protection services bundled with said registration services.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said loss protection services are bundled with said registration services before transfer of ownership of a jewelry item to a consumer, a cost of said loss protection services bundled with said registration services being included in a cost of the marked jewelry item to the consumer.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein a wholesaler includes the registration services and loss protection services in the cost of the jewelry item, the wholesaler transferring the jewelry item to at least one entity prior to the consumer obtaining the jewelry item.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the database and the loss protection system are implemented by the same system.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the database includes an identification of marking on the marked jewelry item.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the updating said database occurs upon one of a transfer of ownership, loss, destruction, theft, damage, recovery and settlements initiated.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein terms of loss protection services include identification information for said marked jewelry item.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein terms of loss protection services include a value of said marked jewelry item.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein terms of loss protection services include ownership information related to said marked jewelry item.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said marked jewelry item includes a jewelry item that has been marked with an identification marking.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein said database is a commercial database accessible by authorized entities.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein said initiating said loss protection service agreement includes collecting activation information and transferring said activation information to a provider of said loss protection services.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein said loss protection services are bundled with said registration services after transfer of ownership of a jewelry item to a consumer, the consumer paying an additional cost for loss protection services bundled with said registration services.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein said loss protection services are bundled with said registration services before transfer of ownership of a jewelry item to a consumer, a cost of said loss protection services bundled with said registration services being included in a cost of the marked jewelry item to the consumer.

15. A method for providing registration services and loss protection services related to marked jewelry, comprising:

initiating said registration services by registering a marked jewelry item in a database;

initiating said loss protection services;

bundling the registration services with the loss protection services;

providing the bundled registration services and loss protection services to a consumer; and

,

updating said database upon an occurrence of an event relating to said marked jewelry item.

25. A method for providing registration services related to marked jewelry, comprising:

a wholesaler initiating said registration services by registering a marked jewelry item in a database;

the wholesaler including the cost of the registration services in a cost of the marked jewelry item;

the marked jewelry item begin transferred from the wholesaler to at least one additional entity; and

,

the database being updated to indicate transfers of the marked jewelry item.